Motorists fume as debris piles up below Andheri metro girder
To businessman Dinesh Pujari, the daily commute to an industrial estate in Saki Naka is no less than a ride through hell. Heaps of debris left unattended under the metro girders on the Andheri-Kurla Road pose a risk to hundreds of motorists.
“Right from the Western Express highway, the entire stretch of the Andheri-Ghatkopar Link Road (AGLR) is in a mess, thanks to the metro construction debris. While in some stretches, the debris is inside the metro fencing, major portions, where work has been completed, have heaps of debris, simply left unattended. Many portions of this debris have grass growing on it, which means that it has been there for ages now,” alleged Pujari.
Pranin Mankar, who works in the Hansa Industrial Estate on the Saki Vihar Road, complained that he suffered from frequent bouts of cough and cold due to dust from the open debris. “It is difficult to understand how such a high-level project leaves behind dust and debris even after construction of the girders is complete.”
Many motorists in Saki Naka complained of respiratory problems from travel on the AGLR.
Occupants of several industrial estates have now raised the issue with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). “I see minor mishaps, particularly those involving bikers when they take U-turns under the metro girder,” said Pujari.
While MMRDA spokesperson Dilip Kawathkar said it was the responsibility of the Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) to remove the debris, he promised action.
A source in the MMOPL, though, was quick to rise to the firm’s defence. “Our company had in the past carried out a debris disposal programme, for which we took the help of an NGO and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. But, there are many private players who misuse the barricaded area to dump their own debris.”
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